'Courageous' officer nabs robbery suspect after chase; Taser helps subdue man after struggle in snow; chief praises 'great police work by a younger officer'.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Author: Lee, Brian
• Date: 29 January 2015

Byline: Brian Lee

SOUTHBRIDGE -- During the late hours of the blizzard Tuesday, a Southbridge police officer interrupted a knife-toting, masked robbery suspect.

Officer Ryan Chase chased the man's car from an East Main Street convenience store and caught him after it crashed in Thompson, Connecticut, according to Lt. Jose A. Dingui.

By happenstance, Lt. Dingui said Wednesday, Officer Chase had stopped at Xtra Mart about 11:45 p.m. and saw that the convenience store clerk's hands were up, which the officer found to be strange.

The suspect, later identified as Joel R. Reil, 31, of 55 Goddard St., saw the officer outside the store and managed to get into his vehicle, which he had left running next to the...